In The Laidback Vegetable Garden, For Greater Biodiversity, we saw how a little carelessness can encourage the presence of various living beings useful to our garden. Better still, the more life there is, the less work there is! By letting nature take its course, a natural balance is established and plants, insects and micro-organisms work for us: richer soil, fewer pests, more harvests… and above all, less effort. But if you’re prepared to make a little extra effort, your garden can become even more lively and productive, while having a positive impact on the environment. And rest assured, you’ll soon be able to return to your hammock… promise!
The organisms that live in our garden have a few basic needs that aren’t all that different from ours. And no, Wi-Fi isn’t one of them! I’m talking about water, food and shelter.
Water
All forms of life – plants, fungi, animals, insects, micro-organisms – need water to survive. We water our crops, so why not water wildlife (not literally, unless a groundhog is having a field day in your carrots!)? By incorporating watering points, we’re promoting a garden rich in biodiversity. And you might even prevent rodents from nibbling on your soaker hose when they’re thirsty!
Preserving soil moisture is a simple and effective first step. Adding mulch, compost, sowing green manures or simply leaving plant debris in place limits evaporation and feeds soil fauna, such as micro-organisms, insects and earthworms, which play an active role in garden fertility.
Providing accessible watering points is just as essential, and sometimes just as simple. A shallow saucer with pebbles allows pollinators such as bees and butterflies to drink in safety. A raised bath protects birds from predators as they drink or bathe, and a fountain with a gentle trickle attracts them while adding a soothing murmur to the garden. For small spaces, a container water garden – a simple pond with aquatic plants such as papyrus – is an effective solution that benefits insects, birds and small mammals.
Appropriate Water Zones
If space allows, creating a pond, even a small one, creates a veritable haven for life. Frogs, dragonflies and birds find refuge there, and the addition of aquatic plants like water lilies or even fish contributes to a richer, more self-sustaining ecosystem.
Bats, too, depend on water sources, but unlike other animals, they drink in flight. They need a free space of around six meters to dive and drink in complete safety.
Even temporary puddles can be beneficial. If you have a part of your property that is often wet, save it for the addition of suitable plants rather than treating it as wasted space. By placing irregular flat stones in the shade, rainwater will accumulate enough when it rains to allow butterflies to drink and access dissolved minerals from the rock. A water bottle with a hole in it can also ensure a constant flow.
There are many ways to provide water to the garden, often with little effort, but this is what will have the greatest impact on biodiversity and the natural balance of the garden.
Food
I understand, we don’t grow a vegetable garden to feed our garden mates, but by providing them with varied food resources, we attract and maintain pollinators, auxiliary insects and animals that participate in the ecological balance.
Flowers
Flowers play a key role in feeding pollinators, providing pollen and nectar, two essential resources. Pollinators are essential to the vegetable garden, as they ensure the fertilization of vegetables and fruit, improving crop yield and quality. Pollen, rich in protein, is consumed by many insects, such as bees, to feed their larvae. Nectar, meanwhile, is an immediate source of energy, particularly appreciated by butterflies and bumblebees. Planting a variety of melliferous flowers, such as aster, phacelia, lavender, clover and cosmos, ensures continuous flowering and a steady supply of food.
Butterflies and moths have specific needs. Butterflies like monarchs prefer open, accessible flowers such as echinacea. Moths, often active at dusk, look for flowers with strong fragrances and light hues, such as evening primrose, which releases its nectar in the evening, attracting these discreet pollinators.
Integrating flowers into the vegetable garden is an excellent way of attracting pollinators while beautifying the space. They can be planted at the edges of vegetable rows, between crops to encourage pollination, or in areas dedicated to nectariferous and melliferous plants. Why not plant a bed of cut flowers in the center of the vegetable garden? Certain species, such as nasturtiums, play a dual role by attracting beneficial insects while repelling certain pests. Choosing perennials that flower at different times of the year, such as sweet woodruff, monarda, yarrow and agastache, ensures long-lasting flowering and nutrition for pollinators, without the need for annual replanting. Annual plants, such as zinnias and cosmos, add a touch of seasonal diversity.
Host plants
Caterpillars, the larval stage of butterflies, depend on specific host plants for food before metamorphosis. Some species have very specific needs: machaon caterpillars love fennel and dill, while monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed. Growing these plants means more adult butterflies in the garden. However, don’t worry if some leaves are nibbled away – it’s a sign that biodiversity is doing its job!
Fruit trees and shrubs, such as elderberries, raspberries and apple trees, play a key role in the garden ecosystem. Their flowers feed pollinators in spring, and even fruit that has fallen to the ground benefits decomposing insects and granivorous animals, contributing to the natural recycling of nutrients.
Choosing native shrubs such as serviceberry, chokecherry or mountain ash can provide essential seeds and fruit for birds and small mammals, especially in winter. Letting certain plants go to seed, such as coriander, provides a valuable food source for granivorous birds and small mammals, which also contribute to their dispersal. Why not plant sunflowers to feed wildlife with their seeds, while allowing beans to climb their stems? Temporary feeders can also be installed in winter to support birds during this difficult period and ensure their return in subsequent years.
Native Plants
Native plants play a fundamental role in the biodiversity of the vegetable garden. Unlike cultivated and introduced plants, they have evolved in harmony with the local fauna, making them more efficient at feeding pollinators and other beneficial animals. They are perfectly adapted to the climatic conditions and soils of their region, requiring less maintenance, watering and fertilizing. As well as attracting specific fauna, they provide pollen, nectar and seeds for pollinators, birds and small mammals, while contributing to the natural regeneration of soils and the stability of local ecosystems.
Wild pollinators, such as solitary bees, bumblebees and certain beetles, play an essential role in plant reproduction. Unlike honeybees, they visit a wider variety of flowers and are often more effective at pollinating certain crops. Incorporating native plants adapted to their needs encourages their presence and improves vegetable garden productivity.
Shelters
Shelters are essential for biodiversity, offering refuge and protection to the various species in the garden. After all, we wouldn’t want our little allies to find themselves in the street! How can we offer them a home without turning our own house into a refuge for all the local wildlife? The idea is to share our garden, not our bungalow!
Keeping wild areas fallow is a simple but effective way of providing a haven for wildlife. Leaving certain parts of the garden untended creates spaces where small animals can hide, feed and rest, safe from predators.
Piles of stones or wood make excellent micro-habitats for reptiles, insects and small mammals. These natural structures provide ideal hiding places from the elements and predators, while promoting soil biodiversity.
What To Plant
Planting dense shrubs such as hazel, elder and hawthorn creates safe havens for birds and small mammals. An informal hedge with a variety of species offers protection, food and nesting habitat for a multitude of animals.
Creating a natural meadow or wildflower meadow allows local flora and fauna to flourish freely. These spaces encourage the return of pollinating insects and small animals that find shelter and food.
A Place For Everyone
Leaving dead leaves and hollow stems in winter is a simple gesture that helps insects, amphibians and small mammals to get through the cold season safely. This natural debris provides shelter and a source of food, while enriching the soil. Mulch also provides shelter for organisms that contribute to the garden’s equilibrium.
Installing an insect hotel provides a home for solitary bees, lacewings and ladybugs, precious allies of the gardener. However, it’s important to maintain and clean it regularly to avoid the proliferation of parasites, just like your teenager’s bedroom.
Finally, bird and bat houses encourage their presence in the garden. By providing secure shelters, we encourage nesting and help regulate insect pests, while enjoying the sight of these animals essential to biodiversity.
You don’t have to do everything either! After all, this is a vegetable garden we’re talking about, not a conservation area. Do what you can; every little action contributes not only to biodiversity and the environment, but also to the health of your plants and the ecosystem that is your garden. And you’ll enjoy observing all the life you find there… unless you’re afraid of bugs?
Planting a serviceberry this year!